Romeo and Juliet Essay Critique Essay

Text Analysis: Complexity of love in Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is a complex tragedy exploring different dynamics of love and particularly true love. The play confronts the audience with the very old enmity between two families. The focus is primarily around Romeo and Juliet but also infatuation and brotherly love. Several interpretations have being made, although reading scenes from the real play give a direct familiarity with the text. Romeo and Juliet the play is opened with a focus on the Montague’s and Romeos relationship with Rosaline.

The first introduction to Romeo is by mention from his mother Lady Montague. She appears worried and asks her husband and Benvolio if they have seen Romeo. The Dialogue indicates that Romeo has being very upset and was seen walking with tears streaming from his eyes he has also being shutting himself in his room... “So early walking did I see your son... Many a morning hath there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh morning dew. ” (Act 1 line 120, 129-30).

Romeo is presented as being deeply in love with Rosaline. Shakespeare may have added this scene exaggerating Romeos dismay to emphasize how quickly his feelings change when he sees Juliet also to underline how Romeo and Juliet share an undeniable love which he clearly did not have with Rosaline. Romeo’s sudden change of emotion is clear in “If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin this is: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. (Act 1 Scene 5 line 90) where he first sees Juliet and wants to kiss her hand. Romeo declares that his feelings for Rosaline are completely gone when he sees Friar Lawrence “... With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No; I have forgot that name and that name’s woe” (Lines 35-45 Act 2 Scene 3) and inquires about taking Juliet’s hand. At first FL believes Romeo is there to speak to him about Rosaline and gives a small speech to Romeo accentuating how Romeo was conveyed to be feeling.

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These series of events unquestionably prove that Shakespeare used Romeos first relationship (Rosaline and Romeo) to show that they did not share love but rather an infatuation (Superficial love) which is proven when Romeo finds his true love with Juliet giving viewers a more certain opinion that Romeo and Juliet do in fact have true love it was very important Shakespeare utilised this to ensure that the audience did not doubt the abrupt love or mistake it for infatuation as an author Shakespeare also used diverse language techniques nd altered the characters actions (When Rosaline and Romeo broke up, Romeo no more than cried; When Juliet was thought dead Romeo then to killed himself) He manipulated the audience into believing Romeo and Juliet’s love was real. The enmity between two of Verona’s noble families, tore two sides between many of the residences. Bringing the conflict outside of the two family’s immediate family and also involving close friends. This type of dedication and loyalty is very risky as Escalus had become weary of the fights disturbing the rest of the community.

Declaring the next person to fight in the risk of being banished from Verona; which resulted in even defending a family that Mercutio was not a part of. This is an example of a deep unconditional love and friendship, or family type bond which Mercutio and Romeo shared. Unlike other relationships the brotherly love showed a different dynamic to Shakespeare’s writing abilities. He illustrated he could use formal language and informal language between different characters to one another. Informal language is commonly used between the characters with brotherly love, as this is in the intimacy of the friendship and not in serious situation.

Often spoken by Mercutio, until his last moment alive. Shakespeare upheld his level of wit and humour in a somewhat relaxed manor “... Good King of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives, that I mean to make bold withal; and, as you shall use hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out... ” (Act 3 Scene 1 lines 175-177) Here Shakespeare has used Mercutio’s attitude to belittle Tybalt saying he wishes to attack him, asking him to do as he pleases and quickly (with haste).

Because of this it is very hard to precisely generalize Romeo and Juliet as a Drama play or Comedy (this could also broaden Shakespeare’s range of Audience). Romeo shows his heart break and depression over Mercutio’s death killing Tybalt and consequently becoming banished. Tybalt, also Juliet’s cousin causes Romeo and his actions damage his relationship with Juliet making the families anger and hate towards each other increasingly raw also giving Juliet’s parents more reason to despise Romeo as an individual. Romeo’s actions were an intense show of emotion as he essentially put Mercutio before Juliet.

Shakespeare uses the concept Love at first sight as a basis for Romeo and Juliet’s love and then developing it into a physical and endless connection, using the initial family feud as a foundation to create an innovative love story it was an ideal situation to exhibit how they’re immediate love was stronger than there love for their family as both Romeo and Juliet question their own names and decide the enmity does not affect how they feel nor does the families opinions have an input into the decision to get married.

Juliet goes to a severe level to avoid marrying Paris; Shakespeare also causes Juliet’s actions to create immense grief for her family even though she did not actually die at first. This yet again expresses Juliet’s weakening consideration and love for her family as she put her family through extreme sadness for Romeo not taking into account their reactions or heartbreak and only thinking of her and Romeo’s relationship. The two lovers act very quickly not using much thought or contemplation throughout the play (Romeo taking poison straight after seeing Juliet without thinking of other solutions) “Arms take your last embrace!

And lips, O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss. A dateless bargain to ongoing death! Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide! Thou despite pilot, not at once run back on the dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! Here’s to my love [drinks] O true apothecary thy drugs are quick... ” (Act 5 scene 3 lines 113-18) Demonstrating Shakespeare’s idea of true love as the couple puts their love for one another before everything else in their love.

In conclusion the types of love shown in the whole play are not only complex but a deep insight into what lovers may of felt like in Shakespeare’s time. The audience could clearly recognize the types of love within this play and also pulls people in. Shakespeare’s dramatised use of language is endless in time and can be understood and interoperated clearly, the descriptive use of texts gives a broad and personal level to understanding what is being said. The drama and exaggeration of each conversation makes the tragedy interesting and there is always something attention-grabbing being said or going on.

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